Page 64 of Stars May Fall

I ran out of the room without waiting for her reply. I had to warn Kasten. I lifted my hand to my detector and turned the dial back and forth to make a pattern of whines—the pattern for high alert but not rallying. Meena ran up to me as I hurried down the corridor, the other guards only a few steps behind.

“Lord Lyrason is about to use haemalcomy on the king and queen.” I turned to the four new guards. “Go back and subtly guard Princess Annabelle, but don’t go into the king’s office when she does, hide in the neighboring room unless fighting breaks out.”

They nodded and moved off without question. I rounded the corridor and found Kasten striding toward me, one hand on his sword hilt. I took a moment to appreciate how much stronger I felt with him here. If this turned into a coup, he would know what to do. He looked me up and down as he normally did, searching for injury or signs of distress. I grabbed his forearms as he approached, and even though the corridor was currently deserted, I opened a nearby door and pulled him inside. It turned out to be a closet. In a normal situation, it would have been amusing. Right now, I was just glad of the privacy. Meena was left awkwardly alone outside.

Kasten listened intently as I relayed the conversation Annabelle had overheard. He cursed. “If the king and queen take that haemalcomy, I can no longer wait. I will have to end their reign today. I won’t let their plans to arrest me go any further.”He looked at me as if in askance. “This may be the start of a civil war despite our best efforts. I’m sorry you’re going to be at the center of it.”

I pressed his knuckles to my lips. “Don’t be sorry. Never be sorry for doing what is right.”

The corner of his lips turned up. “I love you, Sophie. You are the good in me.” He pressed his forehead to mine then took a step back. “Stay here. Stay with Meena. Keep away from any fighting. I will come back for you.”

Fear tightened my chest. This was really happening. One minute I was holding his hands, then he was gone, and Meena had joined me inside the dark closet.

I had asked Annabelle to stall for us. If Lyrason really did want the crown for himself, I was only just comprehending how much danger she might be in now.

ANNABELLE

Father was going to kill me. But the alternative was worse. I couldn’t let him destroy himself.

I burst into the room with a gasping shriek. Father stood up from his desk in alarm, Lord Lyrason leaning over his shoulder. “By the kingdoms, what is the matter?”

I fanned the air with one hand. “Father, I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.”

I staggered, holding onto the back of the chair. Father ran to me at once and caught me, his eyes wide with panic. “What is it? What happened?”

“Bitten,” I gasped. “Spider.”

He guided me to a chair and turned to Lord Lyrason. “How many doses do you have?”

I followed his train of thought, and a sudden wave of panic made me feel sick. I was just trying to delay things. I didn’t want Father to think my life was in danger and try to inject me with haemalcomy too.

“There are three doses ready.” Lord Lyrason’s reply came from behind me. “One for Prince Stirling, one for the queen, and one for you, if you wish. The next batch will take a few days to make.”

The king licked his lips as he looked at me. “Give Stirling's dose to her instead. He already draws from his store. He can go without the upgrade for a few days.”

I grabbed his wrist. “What are you doing?”

He patted my arm. “Don’t worry, Annabelle. Lyrason has some medicine which will help you get better.”

I fell off my chair in my panic to get away from him. “No! I would rather die than accept haemalcomy. Nobody should die so I live.” I crawled backward, my hands under my back.

Father held up his hands. “Annabelle, calm down. If you start to panic, the spider venom will only spread faster.”

I staggered to my feet. “I’m fine. I’m fine. See?” I gasped in breaths and forced them to slow. “I’m not taking that. And neither should you or anyone else.”

Father frowned at me. “So you know what this is, do you?”

I hesitated before nodding. There was no way I could hide that knowledge now.

“How did you…you were eavesdropping, weren’t you. There’s no other possible explanation.” He turned and frowned at Lyrason who was analyzing me with a blank expression.

Lyrason shook his head. “I didn’t give her a listening device. Nor did I plant one in this room. She must have gotten hold of the one stolen by the Red Men somehow.”

Father barked a laugh and there was both pride and disapproval in his expression. “Impressive. You’ve always been full of surprises, Anna. But this isn’t your decision. I kept these things from you for a reason. We’ll have to talk about what you’ve been up to later.” His humor faded and he sighed. “I need you to stay calm and cooperate. Trust me. You're young and naive, Anna. Your heart is too soft, and you don’t understand how power works. I do.” He took a moment to assess my condition and ensure I was truly able to stand unaided. He softened his voice and squeezed my arm in a comforting gesture.“I know it’s tragic, but people die all the time for the stability of the country. Think of how many people die in wars. How guards willingly give their lives protecting nobility. How many people labor their whole lives with little personal reward to ensure our infrastructure. This is no different. The more stable a country's leaders are, the more stable and prosperous a nation. Some people die so many can prosper.”

I kept shaking my head. “If you take that injection, Father, I will never follow or support you. A king serves his people at his own expense. You know this.”

He lowered his voice and reached out with his fingers to stroke my cheek. “Annabelle, I know you don’t understand. I know I’ve never explained everything to you, and I will correct that later, but I need you to trust me. This is the only way to save Stirling. It’s the only way to stop your mother from dying before the year is out. I started down this road for them, many years ago. And now it is the only way to win the war against Kollenstar. We finally have a weapon more powerful than their soulless. Stopping the war will save thousands of lives.”

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